Happy New Year from the Sportsman’s Lodge Family

We have been having fun over the holidays!

Nice eating size walleyes have been coming through the ice as well as several throwback size saugers, few nice size tullibee, sturgeon and pike this week. Guests have been having the best luck in 18’-28’ using pink, gold, green glo jigs, and lures tipped with a minnow or shiner. Some guests have had luck the best luck using a full minnow and others just a minnow head. Dead sticking one pole and jigging the other is working well. Electronics such as Vexilars help too. We have a few to rent at the lodge if you want to try one out. Be sure to call ahead to reserve, they go fast.

Ice & Snow
We have 18-20 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel right now. The forecast is calling for single digits and below zero temps next week. We received some snow last week but still just have 0-10 inches on the ice. Not nearly as much as the rest of the state. With cooler temps in the forecast, we should have 2 feet of ice in no time.

Snowmobile Trails
Snowmobile trails are being groomed. The lake trails from Four Mile Bay on the south side of the lake to Oak Island and Graceton Beach (south side of the lake) to Warroad are groomed. Conditions are improving after the recent snowfall but important not to veer off the trail as the ice is quite rough and ice chunks are sticking up off the trail. No travel is advised on the Rainy River yet until conditions in the current areas improve.Check out the Lake of the Woods Drifters and Northwest Angle Edge Riders for more trail reports.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Guide Wack says the action has been good in the islands. A mix of saugers, walleyes and a few pike, perch and muskies have been caught this week. Yes! Muskie! In the islands, we have fantastic muskie fishing in the summer but we usually don’t see too many caught in the winter. A big surprise to a few anglers this week. The best fishing has been in 23’-24’ on the rocks for walleyes and off the rocks for other species. Watermelon color, gold, and glo jigs especially those with some rattle and noise to them have been working the best this week. Some anglers are swearing by just the minnow head instead of the full minnow especially on lures with a treble hook.

Ice & Snow
We have 16-18 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel. 3-10 inches of snow.

Snowmobile Trails
The trail from Four Mile Bay to Oak Island is in decent shape, getting better but it is important to stay on the trail. With not too much snow base yet, there are ice chunks off the trail.Check out the Lake of the Woods Drifters and Northwest Angle Edge Riders for more trail reports.

Ice Road from Young’s Bay to the Lodge
Plowing and maintenance are in progress. It should be ready to go next week. Our signs will be up as soon as it is. For now, please give us a call and we will lead you out.